The Rebel Faction

Dart Starfighter

Length: 7 Meters
Crew: 1 Artificial Intelligence Brain Unit
Arsenal:
2 Laser Cannons
1 Miniature Ion Cannon
Advanced Sensor and Reconnaissance Package*
Sublight: 110 MGLT


The Dart space superiority fighter is the Solarisian's first line of defense and reconnaissance. The Dart is most certainly a unique spacecraft, possessing, for the most part, modern galactic technology, with few differences. The differences, however, are quite large.

Instead of a standard pilot, the Dart carries an Artificial Intelligence Brain Unit. This goes far beyond standard droid starfighter models. The AIBU is at the mental level of human pilot. It has everything a human pilot has. Instinct, perception, the ability to calculate situations and respond accordingly. It learns, like a human, from past encounters. It even has limited programming of human emotion. Anger, desperation, things that have proven beneficial to human fighter pilots.

The AIBU is, in itself, a brain inside a cockpit, and takes up that amount of space accordingly. It is to humans just as Solarisians are to humans. It is not a droid starfighter, it is a Solarisian robot starfighter, just as advanced a creature as the Solarisians.

The AIBU is itself a part of its own hive-mind network, like the Solarisians, with other AIBUs. This allows for an advanced level of coordination with other AIBUs. However, because this is an electronic network, it can be jammed, just like sensors and communications. If it is jammed, AIBUs are capable of communicating with other Darts through standard communications, however the level of coordination of being connected is gone.

The Dart itself is a very fast, very small starfighter. This offers many pros, such as being a harder to hit target, and advanced maneuverability (to a point). Unfortunately, the size and speed of the spaceship has some drawbacks. For one, due to its small size, the Dart has very little with regards to shields. It would be easy to pick off a Dart with one or two laser blasts from an enemy starfighter. Also, while the Dart does have higher maneuverability, due to the fact that it travels at such high speeds, it is difficult for the spaceship to make tight turns. In order to swing around, the Dart would either have to make a wide turn at its speed capabilities, or a narrow turn at vastly reduced speeds.

The Dart possesses two laser cannons, one on each wing, and also a miniature ion cannon. The ion cannon acts much like a normal ion cannon, only much less effective as the standard models of most capital ships. Also, the ion cannon requires a brief period after firing to recharge, so rapidly firing the ion cannon is out of the question. The cannon is capable enough to disable enemy starfighters with one or two blasts. The blast travels at a slightly slower rate as a laser would, however, so it is harder to hit enemy targets.

One of the most beneficial aspects of the Dart with regards to search and recon is the fact that it possesses an Advanced Sensor and Reconnaissance Package, which is located mostly where the cockpit would be if not for the size of the AIBU. The ASRP is capable of constantly scanning the surrounding area and transmitting information back to a source. The information sent back allows for the source to be capable of creating virtual layouts of the area the Dart has traveled through, in order to plan better for assault or quick strike purposes. Unfortunately, due to the power requirements of the ASRP, weapon functions are limited while the ASRP is collecting information.

Darts do not possess hyperdrive capability.